Display device or exhibitor.



N0. 70l,250. Patented May 27, I902.

l. T. BELL.

DISPLAY DEVICE 0R EXHIBITOR. (Application filed No'v. 6, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Shaets-Sheet I.

Patented May 27, I902. l. T. BELL.

DISPLAY DEVICE 0R EXHIBITOR.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1900.)

4 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

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2 0 w 7 2 V. a M d e t n B t a P L L E B 0 5 m 7. 0 N

DISPLAY DEVICE 0B EXHIBITOR.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1900.)

4 Shaw-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WZZZIZGSSZS DISPLAY EVICE on Exmanon.

- (Application filed Nov. 6, 1900;

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% I @ZQMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC T. BELL, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MICHAEL UMSTADTER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

DISPLAY DEVICE OR EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,250, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed November 6, 1900. Serial No. 35,594. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC T. BELL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Display Devices or Exhibitors; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had, to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of my exhibitor. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is afront view of the same with glass cover removed. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, showing the adjustable tongue 72, its cord connections with pulley N, and its springs. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the switchboard and intermittent stopping device. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, of this intermittent stopping device. Fig. 7 is a detail View of friction-pulleys E and E, lever-bar H, &c. Fig. 8 is a detail View of the paper band. Fig. 9 is a detail View of wire connections between motor and switches. Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the manner of connecting ends of paper band to the feeding-rollers. Fig. 11 is a plan view of an end of the paper band. Fig. 12 is a detail View showing the connections between the tongue 'n, cords n, pulley N, and switch 0. Fig. 13 is a side view of the pulley S and the intermittent stopping device for the band, showing the connections therebetween.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter A designates the casing, in which the display-band B of samples of wall-paper or other articles is placed, this continuous band being wound on the feedroller 0, over the guide-rollers o c, and on the take-up roller O. The feed-roller and the take-up roller are provided each with a feedband D, connected thereto, and having a catch-plate or hook -plate d secured to its end and adapted to engage a similar catchplate or hook-plate d, which is connected to each end of the band B of samples or other articles. The band B is designed to be strengthened by edge bands I), of linen or other strong webbing. To the sample-band at each end near its lateral edge is connected a button, catch, or stud b.

The top of the incasement A is usually inclined and provided with a glass facing, as at A, beneath which is the guide board A, which is seated on cross-bars of the casing. Both top and guide -board are preferably made removable. The band of samples or articles to be exhibited passes from the top guide-roller to the bottom guide-roller over the guide-board and under the glass top, the edges of the band being covered in by the sides of the top frame.

The feed and take-up rollers O O are seated in bearings c, from which they can be removed by lifting them out of said bearings, so that other rollers can besubstituted, if desired. The feed-roller and take-up roller are similar, and each is provided with a friction disk or pulley, as at e and e.

M representsasmall electric motor, usually secured to the floor of the incasement and provided with a small pulley m on its shaft, from which a belt runs to the rim of a large pulley F, having a smaller pulley connected, which is belted to another large pulley F, also having a smaller pulley f connected, which is belted to the double or shifting'pulley G, which is connected by separate belts to the upper friction-pulley E and tothe lower friction-pulley E. These friction-pulleys E and E are carried on the ends of the lever-bar II, which is pivoted on the shaft of the shifting-pulley G, and said lever-bar is provided with an arm h, which extends horizonta'lly and is connected at its end to the casing by means of a spring 71., which tends to pull said arm downward to bring the upper friction-pulley E into engagement with Y the friction disk e of the upper roller 0. hen, however, the lever-arm h is lifted by means of the shifting device, the lever H is moved to disengage the upper friction-pulley and move the lower friction-pulley into engagement with the friction-disk of the lower roller 0'. This is effected by means of a shifting device in connection with the shifting-pulley G, which is provided with a lateral ment.

stud adapted to engage a notch or catch of a shifting-arm K. This arm K is designed to have a pushing as well as a pulling move- When the shifting-pulley is moving in one direction, the arm K is pushed rearwardly, and being jointed at its rear end to the curved arm is, which is pivoted to the casing at pushes the arm 7c backward and upward. The arm 70 is provided with a hearing or projection Z, on which the arm h of the lever-bar H bears and which is adapted to engage a notch or catch Z of said arm h in such a manner as to hold the adjustment, this be ing assisted by means of the springk, which connects the arm 70 to the end of the horizontal arm h of the lever-bar H. When, therefore, the motor is operating to turn the lower roller 0, as above described, the band of samples is fed from the upper roller 0 to the lower roller, on which said band will become wound up, the latter being for the time the take-up roller. When, however, the end of the band B is reached, the button or catch b thereof engages an adjustable tongue n, having a suitable guideway 01 and projecting under the marginal portion of the sampleband, and causes said tongue to move along the side of the incasement in the direction in whichsaidbandis moving. Thisslide-tongue is connected to cords n, which extend in both directions therefrom over guides 12 to the switch-pulley N, on which they are oppositely wound. This switch-pulley is pivoted in a bearing in the incasement, its shaft extend ing through and being provided with a bevelgear 0, which engages a bevel-gear 0 on the shaft of the switch 0, which changes the terminal wires of the motor and causes it to run in the reverse direction.

In order to give some play to the switch cords 01, they are connected to the switchtongue n by yielding devices or springs, as indicated at g. In this manneris provided antomatic reversing mechanism. When, therefore, the button or catch at the end of the band '13 operates the tongue n, the action of the motor is reversed and the shifting-pulley G is turned in the opposite direction. This shifting-pulley is provided with a stud g, which projects from its side, and as the pulley rotates this stud engages a notch or catch a of the shifting-arm K and pulling on said arm. disengages the lock between the stud Z and the catch Z of the arm h. This arm is then de pressed by means of the spring h,swinging the lever-arm I-I sufficiently to bring the upperfriction-pulleyinto engagement with the frictiondisk of the upper pulley C. By this automatic adjustment the motion of the sample-band is reversed, the upper roller becoming the takeup, and when the other end of the band is reached a similar button or catch 1) acts on the slide-tongue, which operates the switchpulley to reverse the running of the motor again, and this by reversing the rotation of the shifting-pulley shifts the lever H and causes the lower pulley (3 to d raw the sampleband back again from the upper pulley. In this manner the running exhibition of the samples of wall-paper or other articles can be automatically continued first in one direction and then in the other as long as may be required, the machine requiring no attention or supervision during the operation. For convenience the samples should be numbered, so that the person making a selection can take down-the numbers of such samples as may need a closer inspection. The machine is also designed to carry samples of other articlesas, for instance, patterns of textile goodsand it will be found useful for advertisements. The speed of the machine maybe varied by means of devices ordinarily connected with electric motors, and the switch 0 is provided with a handle at L, so that the reversal may be effected by hand whenever desirable. When the current is cut off by means of the switch, the machine is stopped from running.

As above described, this machine is designed to be run at certain rates of speed, according to the adjustment of the motor; but it is often desirable to provide an intermittent action orregular stoppage in order that the exhibit shall at intervals remain stationary, resuming its motion after a few moments have elapsed. For instance, in exhibiting wall-paper where the side wall, ceiling, and border papers are shown in conjunction, each set of papers can be moved into position and then held stationary for a few moments for proper inspection. To this end is provided an automatic intermittent stopping device or switch, as, hereinafter described. From one of the rollers of the machine having a small pulley provided thereon, as at s, a belt is run to a pulley S, whose circumference is in proper proportion to that of the small pulley s and whose shaft is provided with a crankarm S, to which is connected a pitman r, the lower end of which is attached to a slide 23, carrying a pivoted arm or pawl T, which is free to turn upward or in one direction, while its movement in the other direction is limited by means of a stop T. The slide 2? engages guideways J, which are slightly inclined. Near these devices are placed the terminal air-cylinders V and V, whichare respectively provided with pistons z and z, the rods o and 'v of which are provided at their upper portions with flanges or disks w and 10, respectively, the disk to of that piston-rod which is nearest to the tongue having its outer edge or portion within the path of movement of said tongue as well as within the path of movement of the disk w. Each cylinder forms a switch-terminal, and when the two disks to and w are in touch the current is on and the motor is operating to turn the rolls and move the exhibit. The crank-arm S moves the pawl T upward, carrying with it both pistons through the engagement of the disk w with the disk to. As the pawl T rises it bears away from the edge of the disk 10, which becomes disengaged therefrom, whereupon its piston falls quickly, disengaging said disk w from the disk to, which is arranged to fall more slowly. In this manner the electric-connection is severed until the piston-rod Z2 falls and brings its disk 10" to engagement with the disk to, when the circuit is againclosed and motion is communicated to the exhibit-rollers. Each piston is provided with a central. opening communicating with its piston-rod, which is hollow and openat the top. The piston-rod v has a large opening, and this piston is designed to fall quickly. The piston-rod c has an opening of small character, which'may be regulated by means of a valve so that this piston willfallslowly, its rate of fall being adjustable according to the length of stoppage desired.

The small pulley s on the guide-rollerlis designed to have such relation to the large pulley S that the latter pulley will turn once in drawing a section or exhibit-pattern of the band B in position under the glass top. The adjustment is such that when this is done the crank of the pulley S will be at or near the top of its stroke, and the pawl is adj ust ed to disconnect at the same time, stopping the exhibit until the slow piston descends and its disk or flange comes in contact with that of the fast or gravity piston. Small weights may be employed on thedisk w of the piston 2, if desired, to hasten its descent. When the intermittent switch is not desired to act, the cut-out switch I is closed.

In this machine it is designed to provide an exhibitor for wall-paper and other articles which is adaptable either for continuous exhibition or for intermittent action, the operation of the machine becoming in either case expeditious and convenient and its reversing and intermitting devices of automatic character.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pattern-exhibitor, the pattern-band, the feed and take-up rollers therefor, the electric motor having a driving connection with said band, the rotary switch, the switch-pulley in gear with the shaft of said switch, the

slidable tongue, cords or the like oppositely wound upon said pulley and connected to said tongue, and means carried by said band for operating said tongue to rotate said pulley and switch, substantially as specified.

2. In a pattern-exhibitor, the pattern-band, the feed and take-up rollers for said band, the electric motor having a driving connection with said rollers, the terminal air-cylinders, the pistons in said cylinders in circuit with the motor-terminals and arranged to fall at different rates of speed, and normally in electrical connection, means operated by the band for raising and releasing said pistons to break the electrical connection therebetween, substantially as specified.

3. In a pattern-exhibitor, the pattern-band, the feed and take-up rollers for said band, the electric motor having a driving connection with said rollers, and means for intermittently and automatically making and breaking the circuit of said motor, having the ter* minal cylinders normally electrically connected, the pistons and piston-rods of said cylinders, means for intermittently raising and releasing said pistons and rods, and means whereby said pistons and rods fall at different rates of speed to temporarily break such electrical connection thereof, and for again making such electrical connection upon the termination of such fall, substantially as specified.

4. In a pattern-exhibitor, the pattern-band, the feed and take-up rollers therefor, the electric motor having a driving'connection with said rollers, and a gravity make-and-break device in circuit with said motor, and consisting of the terminal air-cylinders, their pistons and hollow piston-rods, a pawl operated by, the band for raising said pistons and rods, the inclined guide for said pawl, said rods having engaging flanges, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC T. BELL.

Witnesses:

JNo. A. BAEOHER, G. E. WILooX. 

